At the place where the Friulan plains meet the Giulian Alps rises Gorizia, a small border city, built around a "gorica" hill, that in the Slavic language of the original inhabitants means "monticello". Situated as it is at the meeting point of two natural routes of communication between east and west, the Valleys of Isonzo and Vipacco, it was already an important transit point in remote times. Throughout the centuries it has also been an important meeting point between the Italian, Slavic and German cultures all of which have left evident traces in the local art, architecture, literature and music.

The first news of Gorizia dates from the 10th century. It has both a rich medieval history, as can be seen from a visit to the castle and surrounding town, and a middle European history, fruit of the Hapsburg domination of the eighteenth century that made Gorizia one of the richest cities of the Empire. Reunited with Italy in 1918, it was historically changed by the Second World War that effectively redefined the extension of the city to 41 square kilometers, cutting the urban area in two.

Today, because of those borders as well as its position, the city is the natural center for the new geopolitical systems that look towards the Countries of the former eastern block. There has been a great influx in international traffic brought about by new structures in the areas of transport and communication, structures such as the Ronchi dei Legionari Airport, the port of Monfalcone (the northernmost Adriatic Port), the border station in Gorizia, and the Autoporto freight yard in Cervignano del Friuli.

Notwithstanding the fact that many historical sites were destroyed during the World War I, Gorizia still has many antique palaces and churches, including Palazzo Attems Petzenstein and Palazzo dei Conti. The latter was built in the 13th century with double lancet windows on the facade. In a delicious antique suburb one finds the small 13th century church of the Holy Spirit, while in the nearby Piazza della Vittoria the baroque church of Saint Ignatius can be visited, and finally the Duomo, also of 13th century origins, rebuilt and renovated numerous times.